rabble.ca - effective organizinghttps://rabble.ca/category/tags/effective-organizing
enFive quotes for the surging populist socialist movementhttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit-blog/2018/12/five-quotes-surging-populist-socialist-movement
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Maya Bhullar</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/image_1.jpeg?itok=75ku7PaV" width="1180" height="600" alt="Agitate, Educate, Organize by Josh McPhee https://creativecommons.org/2017/03/08/just-seeds/" title="Agitate, Educate, Organize by Josh McPhee https://creativecommons.org/2017/03/08/just-seeds/" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p>When he <a href="http://https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-chanting-protesters-delay-toronto-debate-involving-ex-trump-strategist/">spoke in Toronto</a>, Steve Bannon opened with, "It's not a question of whether populism is on the rise and whether populism is going to be the political future. The only question before us: Is it going to be populist nationalism or populist socialism?" Whatever I think about the Munk Debate and about the racism and fear mongering which underpin the "nationalist movement," they are organizing Canadians across the country. As we fight back, here is some great advice I have learned from organizers.</p>
<p><strong>1. Get local</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"I find it hard to get enthusiastic for the Green New Deal, as much as I love it, when none of these folks show up at local planning and zoning meetings for solar farm permits. That is the frontline of the climate change crisis today in some ways -- replacing fossil fuels with renewable energy. Those meetings are full of solar opponents who have traditional views and prefer to watch the planet die. Supporters are few and far between. No Sierra Club. No League of Conservation Voters. Nobody. The Green New Deal will die in a permit office, not in Congress."</p>
<p>- Tom Matzzie, CleanChoice Energy</p>
</blockquote>
<p>It is important to have a vision, to have an overarching document, but it sometimes feels we have too many overarching documents, accords, compacts, and manifestos -- and not enough people implementing them and tracking opportunities to win change down to the permit office.</p>
<p><strong>2. Develop agency</strong></p>
<p>In an <a href="https://www.harpersbazaar.com/culture/features/a22737480/leeanne-walters-cherri-foytlin-tara-houska-women-environmental-activists-face-danger/" target="_blank">article published in <em>Harper’s Bazaar</em></a> entitled "Women Who Risk Everything to Defend the Environment," Sarah Hurtes talks about the courage of women environmental activists in particular. One of the people she profiles is LeeAnne Walters. She writes:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Walters, whose citizens' movement was one of the first to test tap water and expose Flint homes as having lead levels exceeding the Environmental Protection Agency's safety threshold, says her need to defend the environment doesn't stem from a philosophical conviction to save the planet. Rather, it stems from a desperate need to save her family."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Walters worked with other citizens and they went through a long process of trying to get action, expecting it, and being incredulous at how they were ignored as their families and children got sicker.</p>
<p>Rangel Ramos, a trade union leader from Colombia, introduced me to a book called <em><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/111398.Organizing_for_Social_Change" target="_blank">Organizing for Social Change,</a></em> published by the Midwest Academy. One takeaway was at the start of a campaign people often feel that if they just bring the issue to the authorities' attention, change will happen. If you want to organize a movement, you have to try those meetings with local reps and watch, perhaps incredulous, as nothing happens. If something does happen, the community won easily. Too often veteran organizers come in with our cynicism and our solutions, jumping ahead to the end of the story, but perhaps the cynicism needs to be justified by experience to fuel a movement.</p>
<p><strong>3. Maintain connections</strong></p>
<blockquote>
<p>"The toughest thing for me is having to move on after a campaign. I feel, as I have become a better and better organizer, all across the country are people who feel I broke my promises to them."</p>
<p>- Laphonza Butler, Organizer and SEIU 2015</p>
</blockquote>
<p>Being employed as an organizer or activist during union campaigns and election campaigns, we hear people's issues and we commit to working on them together. Then we are assigned to a new campaign and have to leave.</p>
<p>In 2004, I got to talk to a Republican organizer on the plane back from Wisconsin after the U.S. election. He was my counterpart but had been assigned a city and a few exurbs and was there for six months, so he built connections and friendships in the community instead of having, say, a state or a province to manage. When he left Wisconsin, he left a listserv in place with a few people to staff it. They fed stories to the list to keep it active. However, they knew their posts were unimportant and were meant to generate posts about complaints which were organizable (a bus stop lost here, a pothole there). The staffers then contacted the person with the complaint and worked to address the issue. If they won, it was because of the responsive Republicans, if they lost it was because of the "useless government," but the Republicans still responded.</p>
<p>It was easy, low-cost and effective and the party maintained the connections and he did not have to move to Milwaukee (which is cold). The Democrats had just spent millions to start out data-mining work in 2004, but we were beaten by simple technology and old-school organizing.</p>
<p><strong>4. Grow the movement</strong> </p>
<blockquote>
<p>"Ladies you have saved me this week! Let's organize at the local level and rally in person. Grassroots is the way to go. I volunteer to lead my local chapter but not sure how to start. Help!"</p>
<p>- Member, Pantsuit Nation after the 2016 election</p>
</blockquote>
<p>So someone new wants to get involved as a leader. Now what? Do we make her pay her dues, understand the history of the movement as written by us "the veterans," drown her enthusiasm? Does she get to come blundering in with enthusiasm and push out the veteran organizers? As a part of a private network organizers created to stand against Trump, we heard about these conflicts so often as new energy came into organizing and wanted to be leaders. There is no facile answer to how to welcome new energy and the desire of new participants to lead. It is however integral to develop ways for people to feel like leaders, and chafe against nationalists, fascists and their selected targets, rather than "seasoned activists." We cannot just order newcomers to listen (to paraphrase Cat Stevens' "Father and Son").</p>
<p><strong>5. Be bold</strong></p>
<p>And finally from my former boss Dave Mott:</p>
<blockquote>
<p>"These are difficult and dangerous, desperate times. The labour movement is in serious trouble, which means workers are in serious trouble. We owe it to the people we lead, no matter what level of leadership we are at in this movement, no matter what frustrations may afflict us, to not become cynical. That is the boss' weapon; we should not contribute to it. We will make mistakes. We will win and we will lose. Sometimes decisions made will disappoint us; sometimes we will disappoint. The point is to learn from our mistakes and keep fighting. Workers will forgive us our mistakes if they are made fighting to go forward, to win. They do not forgive mistakes made in retreat, or even standing still. Nor should they. It is we who must keep hope alive, to keep the union strong, edgy and itching for a fight. It is we who must shine the righteous light to encourage people to join this struggle.</p>
<p>Our place is at the centre of the field of battle."</p>
</blockquote>
<p>[drop the mic]</p>
<p><em>Maya Bhullar is rabble's Activist Toolkit Coordinator. The Activist Toolkit Blog is the place to catch up on what's new with the Toolkit. With roundups of newly added tools, highlights of featured tools and extra multimedia content, you'll get up to date info on grassroots organizing.</em></p>
<p><em>Image: <a href="https://creativecommons.org/2017/03/08/just-seeds/">Josh McPhee/Creative Commons</a></em></p>
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</div></div></div>Thu, 13 Dec 2018 13:04:57 +0000The Activist Toolkit154696 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit-blog/2018/12/five-quotes-surging-populist-socialist-movement#commentsSocial movement organizing is Canada's only hopehttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/nora-loretos-blog/2017/06/social-movement-organizing-canadas-only-hope
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Nora Loreto</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/17207182452_7fb0898aff_o.jpg?itok=4ZBHx06b" width="1180" height="600" alt="Image: Flickr/Sally T. Buck" title="Image: Flickr/Sally T. Buck" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>When Margaret Thatcher famously crushed the 1984-85 miners' strike, she symbolized the start of a new order that would be imposed on nations across the Western world: that the post-war pact between capital and labour, where co-operation and friction would create an equilibrium that balanced (some) workers’ rights with corporate prosperity, would soon tilt more and more in the favour of capital.</p>
<p>The Welfare State offered hope for working classes to exit poverty and have some access to power. It would be slowly unraveled over the next three decades.</p>
<p>Thirty-three years later, the West is fundamentally changed. We exist in a world where the fossils of the past remain part of our collective vocabulary, but are less and less reflected in our political and economic realities. What has emerged is a left that believes it can float into power using the tactics and the promises of the right. Confronting power is no longer our primary goal.</p>
<p>Social movement organizing should have transferred knowledge and experience across this divide. That, through multigenerational friendships and common organizing, we should have been able to resist the weaknesses that our opposing experiences have manifested. But our social movements were crushed during this transformation, too. Neoliberalism infected the institutions of the left and destabilized, confused and demobilized progressive organizing.</p>
<p>Today, this can be seen in every corner of the Canadian Left: strategic voting as a tactic to win less terrible governments, conservatized social democracy, very few province-wide movements and nearly no true pan-Canadian organizing, and so on. We all know this; it's fundamental to understanding the limits that we face as progressive Canadian organizers.</p>
<p>Rebuilding must include strategies to reach past these divides, whether regional, generational or jurisdictional.</p>
<p>I write this during a particularly incredible week that demands introspection -- the kind of introspection one engages in when one desires to develop the correct lessons to break past the limits listed above. Not the kind of introspection that paralyzes action, that leaves us so desperate and sad about the state of things that we decide to do nothing, rather than do anything, because if we can't do everything perhaps doing nothing is better for our own personal health.</p>
<p>Social movement organizing that educates average people in their workplaces, on the street, in churches, mosques or temples or in their schools, is the only way to create long-term social change. Literally: the only way. Collectively, we forget this.</p>
<p>And when social movements are weak, it's harder for political parties to keep their heads on straight. They fall into the abyss of the old political tricks that might offer short-term gains, but which will always fail, eventually.</p>
<p>It leaves progressive people in a double-bind: what comes first: an NDP that veers to the right, or a social movement that slowly dies?</p>
<p>The funny thing is that the answers to many of the problems facing us, are easy to see, despite what some will claim. You always go back to the social movements and take their lead.</p>
<p>This isn't easy to do when there's an old order in the driver's seat; an establishment comprised of individuals who are cynical about the power and strength of social movements. Criticism within the left is so often marginalized and then dismissed.</p>
<p>Jeremy Corbyn's win reminds us that Blairite politics are a dead end. That without roots to social movements and people on the ground, a progressive party will fester.</p>
<p>But part of the fake enlightenment of some on the left is an appeal to do things the way they must be done; to play the game the way it must be played: don't offer too much, the media will jump all over us; the Liberals are stealing our ideas; we can't get too radical: no one wants to be called a Communist, etc.</p>
<p>It's stupid obvious that these are the wrong lessons to learn.</p>
<p>At the heart of this problem is the misconception of our relationship to power. It seems that some think we can tango with power to influence it. But power always leads.</p>
<p>Progressive people, movements or parties must confront power, not chase power. When they chase power, they fall into the trap set by the traditional parties. They will always lose because that's how the game was designed.</p>
<p>I think we're in a revolutionary moment, and there are examples of revolutionary confrontation to power everywhere. And perhaps this is the litmus test to decide where you stand on the spectrum of this problem. Are you actively using your time, your resources and your social capital to advance these movements?</p>
<p>The old social contract has fallen away and we're left with a population that is deeply divided, struggling and disenfranchised. If progressive people's actions or campaigns further exacerbate this disenfranchisement, they're no better than Liberals. </p>
<p>Last week, a student activist propelled into the public eye by a movement of hundreds of thousands, took his oath to Queen Elizabeth II as he assumed his seat in the National Assembly in Quebec. Before he took the oath, Gabriel Nadeau-Dubois modified the oath by saying in French, "While waiting for the emergence of a free republic forged in partnership with First Nations..."</p>
<p>This is the new order that all progressive people must strive for: a New Canada that divests from Crown land and gives back traditional territory to Indigenous nations; that refuses to continue the colonial project that harms and kills so many people; that refuses to exploit land, air and water in the name of greed and profits; that refuses the racial and religious hierarchy on which the Old Canada was built.</p>
<p>Revolutionary times require a revolutionary reaction from the Left. If all we do is chase power, rather than reconfigure that power from the ground up, what exactly is the point of our work?</p>
<p><em>Image: Flickr/<a href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/sallybuck/17207182452/in/photostream/" rel="nofollow">Sally T. Buck</a></em></p>
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</p></div></div></div>Fri, 09 Jun 2017 17:16:36 +0000Nora Loreto131986 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/nora-loretos-blog/2017/06/social-movement-organizing-canadas-only-hope#commentsThe New Organizing Institute: Training for organizers by organizershttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/new-organizing-institute-training-organizers-organizers
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-20 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guides">Guides</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guide/new-organizing-institute-training-organizers-organizers"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/noi_logo.jpg?itok=dPKrzP2z" width="1180" height="600" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Are you managing a political campaign and want to know what a campaign manager should do? Do you know how to manage your data? Do you need to do a training for organizers and need some compelling materials? Do you want to brush up your skills as an organizer. The New Organizing Institute (NOI) is building a community of organizers across North America and the world. Their in person and online materials have been developed and refined by organizers in the field, and provide the basic tools necessary to build movement and win real change.</p>
<p>For their online toolkits please visit <a href="http://archive.neworganizing.com/toolbox/" title="Toolbox" rel="nofollow">the toolbox here. </a>You can watch videos, view slides, download materials, and discover other resources to meet your organizing needs.</p>
<p>They also host amazing in person trainings and community building events. Though the NOI is based in the US, but it has worked with Canadian organizations recently to build organizer linkages in Canada. I can't recommend their trainings highly enough. Visit <a href="http://archive.neworganizing.com/" title="NOI" rel="nofollow">their website</a> for more.</p>
<p> </p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/elections">Elections</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/political-action">Political Action</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/1236">Activist Toolkit</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags/effective-organizing">effective organizing</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div>Thu, 04 Jun 2015 14:09:41 +0000maya.bhullar118414 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/new-organizing-institute-training-organizers-organizers#commentsNova Scotia fracking moratorium: Organizing works. https://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/council-canadians/2014/09/nova-scotia-fracking-moratorium-organizing-works
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Angela Giles</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/keep-ns-frackfree.jpg?itok=RrKd94Ex" width="1180" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>The independent review panel had passed their final report and recommendations on to the Nova Scotia government. Just as we were all getting ready to organize another response, this time directed at Andrew Younger (NS Minister of Energy), we found out at the last minute he was going to make an announcement about fracking.</p>
<p>"The government of N.S. will introduce legislation this fall to prohibit high volume hydraulic fracturing for onshore shale gas..." WOOHOO!!</p>
<p>Colleagues and friends from NOFRAC, the Ecology Action Centre, Sierra Club, the student movement, Divest Dal, NSPIRG, Powershift Atlantic and others were at the media conference too and we hugged and cheered.</p>
<p>We are thrilled and proud after <a href="http://www.canadians.org/sites/default/files/publications/nova-scotia.pdf" rel="nofollow">years of anti-fracking work</a>, it paid off. And it was really wonderful to not just witness this historical moment, but for all of us collectively to play a role in it.</p>
<ul>
<li>Our chapters worked hard in their communities to raise awareness and educate their neighbours, friends, co-workers and organized events, rallies, panel discussions, and other creative actions along with having conversations.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Indigenous communities spoke out against fracking as protectors of the water, land and air.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Many political moments were seized and organizing skills were tested along the way; far too many to mention!</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li>Except to say that during the independent (Wheeler) review process which started last fall with recommendations on the scope of the review and potential panel members, many people participated to express concerns with fracking, and to ensure the panel was reflecting their views and concerns.</li>
</ul>
<p>What's the lesson for other jurisdictions or issues? Organizing works.</p>
<p>And yes, there are questions about what will be included in the legislation and concerns with how narrow the scope might be. Of course the devil is in the details, so we will be watching closely when this legislation is introduced, and again participate at every opportunity to ensure this is the strongest legislation possible.</p>
<p>But for now, we celebrate! Wins this important are too few and far between.</p>
</p></div></div></div>Mon, 08 Sep 2014 12:42:52 +0000Council-of-Canadians113036 at https://rabble.caSlacktivism: Is something better than nothing? https://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2014/04/slacktivism-something-better-nothing
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Megan Stacey</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/anonymous_9000.jpg?itok=3tko7MgU" width="1180" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Changing the world, one Facebook post at a time. Does that sound wrong to you too?</p>
<p>Activism is such a fluid concept. There are a million ways to contribute to a cause or be a part of an activist community, and every day we see new strategies for generating engagement and excitement. And that's awesome. Activism is not an exclusive club.</p>
<p>The use of Facebook, Twitter, and new media is an awesome way to merge education, entertainment, and activism. It's accessible, it's 24/7, and it's attractive to young people and other hard-to-reach demographics. </p>
<p>A really polarizing but awesome example of online activism is the #solidarityisforwhitewomen movement started by Mikki Kendall on Twitter. It was her way of calling attention to the privilege of white, upper/middle-class women and the attention on this group in mainstream feminism, to the exclusion of all other women and organizing (particularly women of colour).</p>
<p>This is a super important discussion to have, and a great example of using social media to one's advantage. Forcing feminists with all different backgrounds and experiences to take a look at the way they represent their organizing, judge the inclusivity of their work, and ensure they aren't trying to speak for or appropriate other groups of women is esential. Twitter is a great platform to have this discussion because it reaches so many, it "captions" examples of exclusion, and it's quick and easy. #solidarityforwhitewomen trended almost immediately after its inception. Identifying systemic issues of racism, classism, able-ism, transphobia within the feminist movement is one of the keys to moving forward and building a stronger force for change.</p>
<p>This type of online activism is radically different from the uptick in "slacktivism."</p>
<p>This rise in viral video sharing and online charitable campaigns taking over the online activism scene speaks to laziness. These activities send a feel-good rush (and often an automatic, congratulatory Facebook post to let your friends know you donated a kilogram of rice to starving kids in Asia by playing Bejeweled) without calling for real engagement and critical thinking. </p>
<p>I love the word slacktivism for perfectly describing this sloppy and non-committal way to pretend one is donning an activist cloak, without putting any thought or effort into those actions. Supporting a movement should involved research, passion, and a willingness to get involved outside of social media.</p>
<p>The Oxford Dictionary defines slacktivism as "actions performed via the Internet in support of a political or social cause but regarded as requiring little time or involvement, e.g. signing an online petition or joining a campaign group on a social media website."</p>
<p>I see nothing wrong with signing a petition or participating in a quick, short event for a cause you believe in. In fact, this is the entire premise of the Activist Toolkit's 3-Minute Actions. Everyone has something to offer, and we all have different ways of advocating for the things we believe in. Digital activism often provides a forum for those who wouldn't be able to offer their time and energy to activist circles without the accessibility of the online world.</p>
<p> Rather, I think the issue stems from that idea of "involvement." No matter how you're contributing to an activist movement -- whether you're heading a protest on Parliament Hill, or working to educate yourself by reading news articles -- your contributions are valid. The key, in my opinion, is that they are authentic and genuine. It takes away from a group's energy to have activists who aren't committed or don't care about a cause. And it's a waste of your time to absent-mindedly click around on Facebook in order to slap on the activist label. At best, it's misguided and a little bit lazy, but at worst, it's damaging, offensive, ignorant and everything an activist campaign is working to avoid.</p>
<p>Let's take a look at a recent campaign that's been blowing up my Facebook newsfeed: no makeup selfies. I think this campaign is ridiculous, and frankly an excuse for the most off-putting, congratulatory kind of narcissism.</p>
<p>The campaign supposedly started in the U.K., with women posting pictures of themselves without any make-up in order to raise donations for cancer. After posting a #NoMakeUpSelfie, ladies then tag their friends and family to do the same. British cancer charities said there was a decided upswing in website hits and donations, though they weren't sure of the campaign's origins.</p>
<p>By the time it reached Canada, there seemed to be a loss of this donation-raising aspect of the campaign. I saw at least ten no-make up selfies where the photographer then returned to say "I had no idea this was to raise awareness about cancer…"</p>
<p>Here's the thing: I support programs that encourage positive thinking and raising self-esteem. Breaking down sexist societal standards, like the idea that women should be in a full face of make up before she dares to leave the house and allow others to view her natural face, is a super worthy goal. Raising money for cancer is a great use of one's time and energy, provided the charity is responsible and allocates donations well.</p>
<p>But to me, that's not what no make up selfies are about. Supposedly the selfies are raising money for cancer -- but that connection was vague, at best. Moreover, posting a picture of yourself on the Internet has nothing to do with cancer. It's incredibly self-absorbed to think taking a photo and trolling the Internet for compliments about your beauty somehow supports men and women going through cancer.</p>
<p>In fact, it's an activity that can be even be offensive or at the very least a little hurtful to cancer survivors and those currently undergoing treatment, as physical appearance is greatly affected by the journey and can often have a considerable impact on feelings of self-worth and retaining a sense of "normalcy" during a time of life that is chaotic and dredged in fear. </p>
<p>Of course, some tried to pair their selfies with awareness -- posting links to breast self-exam guides or other information about cancer. But the truth is there are a million other ways to support cancer survivors and raise awareness about the disease without including a picture of your face.</p>
<p>I just can't see how it’s any more than narcissism. It's a way to declare your goodness to the world, show everyone your "selflessness" and "compassion" and veiling it with a vague idea of supporting cancer research. It's a way to derive compliments, head pats, and internal satisfaction... all the while pretending it's in the interest of cancer awareness.</p>
<p>Here's a thought. If you want to support those with cancer, think a little deeper. For just a little more time than it would take to pose for 50 selfies, you could grab a quick meal from the grocery store and take it to a family impacted by cancer. If you're really looking to contribute to the fight against cancer, offer to help someone who is knee-deep in the battle. Simple gestures like offering to drive kids to soccer practice, picking up groceries, or throwing in a load of laundry are all things that those undergoing cancer might really appreciate. That's a way to contribute to the fight without ever opening Facebook.</p>
<p>It's not just about ending selfies and getting off Facebook (although those are clearly two reccommendations of mine). The broader issue is thinking critically about your actions and their impact. </p>
<p>Activism isn't always focused on direct action -- there are tons of ways to launch and sustain really awesome online campaigns. But taking selfies isn't one of them.</p>
</p></div></div></div>Fri, 11 Apr 2014 10:45:38 +0000The Activist Toolkit108007 at https://rabble.caTalking feminisms with activist Julie Lalonde https://rabble.ca/podcasts/shows/constructing-change-activist-toolkit/2014/02/talking-feminisms-activist-julie-lalonde
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/bios/steffanie-pinch">Steffanie Pinch</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-10 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/podcasts/shows/constructing-change-activist-toolkit">Constructing change: the activist toolkit</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/lynn_3.png?itok=9UOpxnBb" width="1180" height="600" alt="" title="Rad Voices on the Lynn Williams Activist Toolkit" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-story-publish-date field-type-date field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><span class="date-display-single">February 28, 2014</span></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/feminism">Feminism</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/issues/political-action">Political Action</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>Theme Music: Oh Susquehanna! by Defiance Ohio</p>
<p>Rad Voices is a monthly series on Constructing Change: The Podcast of the Lynn Williams Activist Toolkit. Rad Voices is funded by a CKLN-FM legacy grant. It's a space where radicals can talk about their own experiences with activism, organizing and challenges in their movements. This series tries to appreciate radical grassroots activists working towards change in different ways.</p>
<p>If you know someone rad working in your community who you think should be interviewed for this series, please email <a href="mailto:steff@rabble.ca" rel="nofollow">steff@rabble.ca</a>.</p>
<p>Julie Lalonde has been a feminist activist for almost a decade. Organizing for survivors of sexual assault and for reproductive justice, Julie has been involved with numerous campaigns and groups including the Abortion Rights Coalition of Canada, the Ms. G Project, The Radical Handmaids and more. She started the Coalition for a Sexual Assault Centre at Carleton University and won a student-run Centre in September 2013. Read more about her work on <a href="http://yellowmanteau.com/about-me.html" target="_blank" title="Yellow Manteau" rel="nofollow">her website, Yellow Mateau</a>.</p>
<p>Here are some tools to get started working with <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/report-street-harassment-on-ihollaback" target="_blank" title="Hollaback!" rel="nofollow">Hollaback!</a>, <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/support-survivor" target="_blank" title="Supporting survivors" rel="nofollow">supporting survivors</a> and <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/creative-pro-choice-activism" target="_blank" title="creative pro-choice activism" rel="nofollow">creative pro-choice activism.</a></p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/reproductive-justice">reproductive justice</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/gender-based-violence">gender based violence</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4650">canadian feminism</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags/effective-organizing">effective organizing</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-mp3 field-type-file field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">
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</div></div></div>Sat, 01 Mar 2014 04:52:31 +0000The Activist Toolkit107007 at https://rabble.caActivist Toolkit roundup: Welcoming Marchhttps://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2014/02/activist-toolkit-roundup-welcoming-march
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-14 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even">Megan Stacey</div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/al_jazeera_english_.jpg?itok=FxXYz-Wp" width="1180" height="600" alt="" /></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>As we transition out of a busy month for activist events, late February and March are here to greet us with several new important campaigns. This week is Israeli Apartheid Week, while Saturday brings the advent of women's history month (and with it <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/on-this-day/international-womens-day" target="_blank" title="Internation Women's Day" rel="nofollow">International Women's Day on March 8th</a>).</p>
<p>This week's activist tools are all about organizing in practical ways for these events (or ways to apply these lessons to another cause!).</p>
<p>There are lots of ways to take action as part of Israeli Apartheid Week. <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/take-action-israeli-apartheid-week" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">This tool</a> makes a good starting point if you need to get the creative ideas flowing! Most of these ideas involve some type of direct action. Check out <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/tips-direct-action" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this guide</a> on effective organizing before, during and following your action. There are lots of general ideas that are useful whether you are planning a protest, some type of creative rally or a sit-in.</p>
<p>If you like the idea of non-violent shows of support your cause (think: sit-in, picketing, or public song/prayer/peaceful demonstration), this week's <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/workshop/workshop-on-non-violent-techniques" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">workshop on non-violent street tactics</a> is a great tool to spark discussion on effective organizing, safety on the street, and dealing with authority.</p>
<p>Boycotts are another effective way to stand up against injustice. Making an economic impact is often even more damaging to the corporate world than more tangible and visible action like a protest, because boycotts have the chance of affecting that all-important bottom line. Lots of ideas to help you understand and plan a boycott are found in <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/workshop/boycotting-workshop" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this week's tool</a>. Of course, one of the most well-known boycott campaigns is the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. It's a nice way to take lessons from organizing for Palestinian freedom and apply those ideas to other activist work.</p>
<p>Are you looking for another great cause where you can put these ideas on direct action, non-violent shows of support, or boycotts into practice? A month to honour the history of women and celebrate International Women's Day seems to be the perfect opportunity. The Activist Toolkit is home to a couple of additional tools that might help inspire your organizing in March.</p>
<p><a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/rabblepedia/code-pink" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Code Pink</a> is a great example of merging feminist causes with Israeli Apartheid Week efforts. The organization is a grassroots, women-led effort to challenge military occupation around the world, instead funnelling such funding into social programs and other similar efforts to improve the daily lives of women.</p>
<p>If you use Twitter to share ideas and inspire your feminist organizing, you need to check out this <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/software/block-bot" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">software tool</a> that blocks offensive anti-feminist users. The Block Blot allows you to screen those ignorant and non-constructive Twitter trolls and focus on the intelligent debate and support from your feed.</p>
<p>This week is also National Eating Disorder Awareness Week. In honour of these efforts, there are a couple of tools on the Activist Toolkit to support friends struggling with issues of self-esteem or self-worth.</p>
<p><a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/rabblepedia/about-face" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">About Face</a> is a rabblepedia tool sharing the site of the same name. About Face is all about helping women and young girls understand and resist harmful messages perpetuated by the entertainment industry and much of the mainstream media about beauty and the importance of being skinny.</p>
<p>Another important way to organize for women is by offering support to women dealing with abuse. Obviously, violence against women is an important issue to discuss during this month. Check out these <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/supporting-women-facing-abuse" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">awesome tips and practical ideas</a> for being there for a friend, acquaintance or colleague experiencing abuse.</p>
<p>We may be ending the <a href="http://rabble.ca/blogs/bloggers/activist-toolkit/2014/02/activist-toolkit-roundup-february-activist-paradise" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">activist paradise month</a>, but there are plenty of important causes to support in March, too. The only left to do is get rid of all this snow (at least here in Canada!) and bring on all the great organizing that comes with warmer spring weather.</p>
</p></div></div></div>Fri, 28 Feb 2014 11:21:42 +0000The Activist Toolkit106985 at https://rabble.caGuide to Activism in Winter and Spring 2014https://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/guide-to-activism-winter-and-spring-2014
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-20 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guides">Guides</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guide/guide-to-activism-winter-and-spring-2014"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/catchingcourage.com_cc.jpg?itok=2qd9wU_H" width="1180" height="600" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>If you’ve been surprised by the variety of activist campaigns and events this month, it might be helpful to check out Amnesty International’s “<a href="http://www.scribd.com/doc/199602428/Winter-Spring-2014-Activism-Guide" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">Activism Guide</a>,” profiling annual campaigns and popular activist issues in each month. </p>
<p>The guide includes lots of useful information on Amnesty projects and programs - everything from petitions to funding your activist project. But pages five through 15 are all about the monthly updates. The final few pages also offer some handy general tips on activism, including partnering with another organization and petition materials. </p>
<p>Here's a brief look at the great insight the guide provides into activism during these cold, dreary Canadian months.</p>
<p>January: Honouring a Maya Q'eqchi teacher and community activist killed in Guatemala by mining representatives with a short play (made for a group to perform in less than 20 minutes)</p>
<p>February: Have a Heart for First Nations Children (check out our tool <a href="http://rabble.ca/toolkit/3-minute-action/organizing-first-nations-children" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>)</p>
<p>March: International Women's Day</p>
<p>April: Gear up for Amnesty International's campaign against torture</p>
<p>May: Pride kicks off for the summer</p>
<p>June: "Don't Close teh Door on Refugees" campaign</p>
<p> </p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/political-action">Political Action</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/effective-organizing">effective organizing</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags/activist-organization">activist organization</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/monthly-guide">monthly guide</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div>Fri, 14 Feb 2014 05:51:17 +0000The Activist Toolkit106653 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/guide-to-activism-winter-and-spring-2014#commentsThink Outside the Box for Campaign Successhttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/think-outside-box-campaign-success
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-20 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guides">Guides</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/guide/think-outside-box-campaign-success"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/lightbulb.jpg?itok=ugMyd89z" width="1180" height="600" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>If you're looking for new and fresh ways to spice up an existing campaign, or you're looking for tips to knock your next project out of the park, <a href="http://www.beyondpesticides.org/infoservices/pesticidesandyou/Fall%2001/Preparing%20for%20a%20Campaign.pdf" target="_blank" title="Preparing for a new campaign" rel="nofollow">check out this guide</a>.</p>
<p>It focuses on new and uncommon ideas to help prepare a successful campaign. The author's angle is environmentalist – specifically a reduction in pesticides – but there are tons of useful tips for organizers in all activist realms.</p>
<p>A lot of the advice is simple, suggestions such as saying thank you to everyone who's involved, in even the smallest of roles, in the organizing. That being said, sometimes the smallest changes are enough to re-ignite a dying group or project.</p>
<p>Here are some of the best tips:</p>
<p>-provide simple answers to the opposition’s arguments</p>
<p>-set positive, feasible goals that resonate with people</p>
<p>-work without letting your ego get in the way</p>
<p>-gather as many volunteers as possible to help push your actions to success</p>
<p>-employ (non-offensive) humour and great artistic/visual components</p>
<p>-involve “unlikely” people – it can only expand the reach of your activism</p>
<p> </p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/taxonomy/term/4403">campaign</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/volunteers">volunteers</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/effective-organizing">effective organizing</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div>Fri, 31 Jan 2014 05:00:35 +0000The Activist Toolkit106297 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/guide/think-outside-box-campaign-success#commentsAdvocating for Day Labourers and Migrant Workershttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/rabblepedia/advocating-day-labourers-and-migrant-workers
<div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-20 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/rabblepedia">rabblepedia</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-field-image-for-node field-type-image field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/toolkit/rabblepedia/advocating-day-labourers-and-migrant-workers"><img src="https://rabble.ca/sites/default/files/styles/large_story_850px/public/node-images/karen_blumberg.jpg?itok=x0vfiyTh" width="1180" height="600" /></a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-body field-type-text-with-summary field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><p><p>If you’re into Top 40 hits, I’m betting you’ve heard Avicii’s “Wake Me Up.” But do you know who’s responsible for the vocals? It’s Aloe Blacc. His video for the song is a little bit less dance-inspired and a whole lot more heartwrenching. Watch it <a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M_o6axAseak" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">here</a>.</p>
<p>Blacc’s video encompasses the mission of the <a href="http://ndlon.org/en/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">National Day Laborer Organizing Network (NDLON)</a>. They’re a great organization that advocates on behalf of day labourers in the United States. If you’re in the U.S., you can check out their <a href="http://ndlon.org/en/take-action/events" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">event listings</a>.</p>
<p>While this is a U.S.-based group, there’s a lot that activists in Canada can learn from NDLON. The way their <a href="http://ndlon.org/en/blog" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">blog</a> posts connect current news to broader labour issues is a great way to engage a wide audience and promote the age-old advice for activists to always ask questions. Their articles based on holding politicians and leaders to account are powerful and pushy. And lest you think NDLON and Blacc’s video are an exclusively-American issue, check out <a href="http://www.straight.com/news/408521/migrant-workers-canada-exploited-because-restricted-mobility-new-report" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">this article</a> on some of the most recent struggles of migrant workers right here in Canada.</p>
<p> </p>
</p></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-22 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/issues/political-action">Political Action</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-9 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags-issues/labour-rights">labour rights</a></div><div class="field-item odd"><a href="/category/tags-issues/immigrant-workers">immigrant workers</a></div><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/tags/effective-organizing">effective organizing</a></div></div></div><div class="field field-name-taxonomy-vocabulary-23 field-type-taxonomy-term-reference field-label-hidden"><div class="field-items"><div class="field-item even"><a href="/category/regions/ca">CA</a></div></div></div>Fri, 24 Jan 2014 00:39:53 +0000The Activist Toolkit106150 at https://rabble.cahttps://rabble.ca/toolkit/rabblepedia/advocating-day-labourers-and-migrant-workers#comments